Soccer: Spanish team fined $16,000 for banana taunt

MADRID -- The Spanish league's disciplinary committee has fined Villarreal $16,000 for the fan who threw a banana at Dani Alves last month.

MADRID -- The Spanish league's disciplinary committee has fined Villarreal $16,000 for the fan who threw a banana at Dani Alves last month.

During Barcelona's 3-2 win at Villarreal on April 27, Alves was set to take a corner when a banana thrown by David Campayo Lleo, 26, landed on the field. Alves, who is black, picked it up, bit off a piece and then discarded it before taking his kick.

Alves' actions led to social media support from fellow players, celebrities and politicians who posed for photos with bananas.